PSS Family Week Ahead October 5 - 9 

DIVERSITY. CREATIVITY. COMMUNITY. 

TOGETHER WE SHINE 

Prairie Sky School Vision 

Prairie Sky School is a diverse learning community where creativity and well-being empower every student to grow 

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School Information 

• Website: https://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/prairiesky/Pages/default.aspx     
• Address: 201 Skyview Ranch Rd NE  
• Phone: 403-817-3452  
• Attendance Line: 403-807-8029  
• Email: prairiesky@cbe.ab.ca 

Message from the Principal 

Dear Prairie Sky School Families, 

Another busy and successful week is in the books at Prairie Sky School! 

This week, our students in Grades 1-5 completed the provincial literacy and numeracy assessments. Our teachers have worked hard to support students through this process, and families can expect more information later this month regarding how assessment results will be communicated. 

Our athletic programs continue to be in full swing, with soccer and basketball teams representing Prairie Sky School almost every evening. We are proud of the dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship our student-athletes are demonstrating. We have also launched our Grade 4-5 Run Club, which has already attracted more than 30 students eager to spend their lunch hour staying active and building their fitness. 

We were also excited to host a special Meet the Teacher event for our families new to Prairie Sky School through Kindergarten. It was wonderful to see the excitement on our students' faces as they proudly showed their classrooms and school to their families. These opportunities help strengthen the important connection between home and school. 

Thank you for your continued support as we head into October. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and look forward to another great week of learning ahead! 

Warm regards,  

Peter Rowe 
Principal, Prairie Sky School 
Diversity • Creativity • Community • Together We Shine 

CBE Offerings 

Prairie Sky News   

From the Office 

To help us maintain accurate and up-to-date information for your child, we ask all families to complete their Demographic Verification Form in SchoolEngage each school year. This annual process ensures that important information such as contact details, emergency contacts, medical information, and permissions are current.  

Keeping this information updated helps us communicate effectively with families and support student safety throughout the year. 

If you require assistance completing the form, please visit the following support page for step-by-step instructions: 

 🔗 https://support.cbe.ab.ca/schoolengage-demographic-verification-form 

Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this important annual task. Your cooperation helps us ensure we have the most accurate information on file for your family. 

Safety Spotlight: Crosswalks and Traffic  

As we move through the school year, we want to remind families about the importance of making safe choices both at school and on the way to and from school. Please remind students to use crosswalks, follow traffic signals, stay aware of their surroundings, and use appropriate safety equipment when biking, scootering, or riding a skateboard. We also encourage families to talk with their children about making safe choices, reporting concerns to a trusted adult, and looking out for one another. Thank you for helping us keep Prairie Sky School a safe and caring place for everyone. 

Book Study: The Anxious Generation 

Chapter 5 Summary: “The Four Fundamental Harms”  

In Chapter 5, Haidt looks more closely at how the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood may be affecting children and teens. He identifies four major areas of concern: social deprivation, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction.  

Haidt explains that children need regular face-to-face interaction to develop important social skills such as reading body language, solving disagreements, building relationships, and learning how to navigate challenges with others.  

He also highlights the impact phones can have on sleep and attention. Notifications, social media, games, and the constant availability of new content can make it harder for young people to disconnect, get enough sleep, and maintain their attention on less stimulating activities.  

Finally, Haidt discusses how many apps and social media platforms are designed to keep users coming back. The constant stream of notifications, likes, and new content can create habits that are difficult for children and adults to manage.  

A key takeaway from this chapter is that the question may not simply be “How much screen time is too much?” but rather “What is the screen time replacing?” If technology is replacing sleep, play, physical activity, family conversations, or time with friends, it may be worth taking a closer look at our family's habits.  

Reflection Questions for Families  

• Is technology affecting your child's sleep?  
• How much of your child's social time happens face-to-face compared with online?  
• What does your child do when they are bored and don't have access to a screen?  
• Are there times during the day when your family could create phone-free space?  

As parents and educators, our goal isn't to eliminate technology. It is to make sure that technology remains one part of our children's lives without replacing the experiences they need to grow. 

School Council  

Next School Council Meeting: 

The next school council meeting will be at 5:45 pm on Monday, October 26^th at Prairie Sky School, in the Learning Commons. We will continue to incorporate a 'live stream' Teams meeting options, if you would prefer to join remotely, please click the link below to join. All parents and guardians are welcome! We hope to see you then. 

Microsoft Teams meeting 

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/240918158524972?p=lWoVYJDlyT1Lz1WgRr 

School Council Meeting Dates 2026-27  

• October 26, 2026 
• November 23, 2026 
• December 14, 2026 
• January 18, 2027 
• February 22, 2027 

PSS Athletics  

• New PSS Athletics Calendar – please find all PSS athletics information located on this monthly calendar.